“A Headache Every Day since the New Law”: Mexican Women in the Hair Salon Business and Anti-immigrant Policies in Arizona

Abstract

This paper analyzes the involvement of Mexican women in the formal and informal self-employment sector in a large metropolitan area of Arizona. Qualitative research is used to explore factors that impact self-employment activities of Mexican immigrant women in light of Arizona’s emerging policies aimed at controlling immigration. These policies seek to make it more difficult for undocumented immigrants to access employment opportunities. Women’s testimonials highlight the “headaches” caused by participating in the labor market amid growing restrictions, as well as the creative, hybrid forms of self-employment that combine both formal and informal markets and practices. “Un dolor de cabeza constante desde la aprobación de la nueva ley”: Mujeres mexicanas en el negocio de salones de belleza y las políticas antiinmigrantes en ArizonaResumenEn este trabajo se analiza la participación de las mujeres mexicanas en el sector formal e informal de autoempleo, en un área metropolitana de Arizona. Se utilizó un análisis cualitativo para descubrir los factores que afectan las actividades de autoempleo de las inmigrantes mexicanas, a la luz de las nuevas políticas de Arizona dirigidas a controlar la inmigración y limitar el acceso al empleo para los inmigrantes indocumentados. Los testimonios de mujeres migrantes destacan el “dolor de cabeza” que viven al participar en el mercado de trabajo en medio de las crecientes restricciones, así como las formas creativas de implementar trabajos por cuenta propia en los mercados formales e informales.

Cover image

Keywords

• women
• immigration policies
• self-employment
• beauty salons
• Arizona

How to Cite

References

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